Crowd-Funding the First Icelandic-Speaking Clock

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Crowd-Funding the First Icelandic-Speaking Clock

Björn A. Magnusson has created the world’s first Icelandic-speaking clock, RÚV reports. The idea for the device was born when Björn realized that his grandmother, who is blind, had trouble keeping track of time. While abroad, he had seen clocks that announced the time out loud, but he quickly discovered that there weren’t any such clocks that would tell the time in Icelandic. So he decided to create an Icelandic-speaking clock himself.

The simply named Icelandic Clock has an equally simple design and function: it is a small, battery powered and portable clock that tells the time in Icelandic with the push of a button.

Björn has worked in computer-adjacent industries for twenty years, but had never undertaken a project of this nature. He advertised widely for assistance and connected with university student Halldór Axelsson, who worked at entrepreneurial firm and tech manufacturer ELab. Within weeks, the first prototype—“The Icelandic Clock, 1.0,” as Björn calls it—was ready.

After creating a single Icelandic-speaking clock for his grandmother, Björn soon realized that there was a greater need for a clock of this type among visually impaired Icelanders, Icelandic children, and people who are learning Icelandic. He’s launched a campaign on the Icelandic crowdfunding website Karolina Fund to raise money for a limited production run of the clock. The project will be open for donations until March 16th, during which time, Björn hopes to raise €6,000.

Watch a video about the clock (in Icelandic) on the Karolina Fund website, here.